Music and its powerful ability to benefit our health

Music has the restorative ability to influence one’s mood, triggering and eliciting a range of emotional responses including hope, despair, and everything in-between.

Music has the restorative ability to influence one’s mood, triggering and eliciting a range of emotional responses including hope, despair, and everything in-between. Everyone can remember a time when they were touched by a song, whether it was in the final climactic moments of a film or when they saw they favourite artist live for the first time. Such feelings are a natural response to stimuli we have been exposed to over the years – our brains have hardwired a deep connection to music and the cultures that surround it.

Perhaps one of the reasons music can relieve stress, pain and anxiety, is in its ability to occupy our minds for a period, distracting us from dwelling on deep thoughts. Certainly, the existence of relaxing radio stations, featured on both on analogue and digital channels, shows music being categorised and implemented based on the mood it evokes in people, rather than simply the novelty of individual songs or artists.

Music has also been known to boost and enhance memory, with it being widely reported that dementia patients can more easily remember things from their past when associated with a certain song or even just the sound of a certain instrument. We tend to remember things better when we associate. Even the most popular and mainstream music festivals can evoke emotions, like the ‘those feels’ expressed at Splendour in the Grass in 2019.

Truthfully, each of us have a unique set of musical songs that are undoubtedly special to us. For this reason too, music helps is clearing the brain. A much-needed rejuvenation in-between the routine and mundane reality of our everyday lives.

In a similar fashion, whenever we experience difficulty sleeping, music can help calm us down preparing ourselves for bed. Even when we have no issues with sleep, certain types of music can enhance the quality of our sleep, so we have a deeper, more effective rest at night. Whenever we feel restless, music helps to pass the time away. It provides a great outset for escape and naturally helps us to produce dopamine. 

In this way, ambient music, synchronised with the soundscapes of outdoor environments, has become one of the most popular ways people choose to wind down before sleep. Tonal melodies echo throughout virtual forests, jungles and cave systems, brining us back to nature and helping us escape the seemingly constant noise of modernity.

Music helps to pump us up for workouts, especially when we are listening to something up-tempo. Gym enthusiasts will tell you that mental preparation is an important step before any exercise routine. And even during the process, music helps time our rhythmic movements to a beat. Just thinking about how dancing works! Music helps to get blood pumping as we warm up and prepare ourselves. It’s no wonder that we can observe the connection between the beats-per0m

So which genres of music make you feel a particular way? Individuals can respond to stimuli in different ways, so we should be careful about drawing blanket conclusions for all people. Regardless, the tone, beat and tempo of songs will be the tell-tale clues. Musical tone refers to its richness and colour. Several components such as pitch, rhythm and volume comprise the tone of any given song. Generally speaking, muddier tones, in other words, songs played in a minor key, will make us feel sadder than songs played in a major key. Musical dissonance, or the harsher clashing of notes stirs uneasy feelings. Different music can light up different parts in our brain

Differences in pitch can actually differ between genders, each characteristic of where there natural speaking register sits. Women prefer higher notes with men preferring lower octaves. It is most unlikely for your average joe to find people who are within either of the two extreme ends of this scale. Normally an even distribution between the two preferences is prevalent. 

When you take into consideration all the emotional wellness benefits listening to music has, it’s no surprise why it’s been a beloved art form practically since the dawn of human civilisation. While created as artistic expression and catalyst for recreation, music is now an integral part of the world economy and the daily lives of most people – even if they don’t fully realise it yet.

Music and its powerful ability to benefit our health

Gold Coast Magazine

Gold Coast Magazine

Our in-house team and affiliates bringing you the latest in Culture, Lifestyle and Entertainment from around the globe and the great stories of the Gold Coast

Pink Dazzled the Gold Coast Carrara's Heritage Bank Stadium with her Summer Carnival tour. This wasn't just any concert

Pink Dazzled the Gold Coast Carrara’s Heritage Bank Stadium with her Summer Carnival tour. This wasn’t just any concert

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Boo Seeka as we explore the creative process behind his latest album 'Midnight Highlight' and gear up for

Join us for an in-depth conversation with Boo Seeka as we explore the creative process behind his latest album ‘Midnight Highlight’ and gear up for his nationwide tour

Discover Act of Treason: Australia's pioneering agave spirit reshaping the global landscape. Read more about its innovative journey in Queensland

Discover Act of Treason: Australia’s pioneering agave spirit reshaping the global landscape. Read more about its innovative journey in Queensland

Dine amidst nature at Farm & Co Restaurant in the Tweed Valley. Offering farm-fresh, organic eats on a 52-acre farm, it's a perfect mix of

Dine amidst nature at Farm & Co Restaurant in the Tweed Valley. Offering farm-fresh, organic eats on a 52-acre farm, it’s a perfect mix of rustic charm and gourmet flavours.

Excitement builds as Pacific Airshow Gold Coast announces 2024 dates; early bird tickets on sale from Feb 1, promising more aerial thrills.

Excitement builds as Pacific Airshow Gold Coast announces 2024 dates; early bird tickets on sale from Feb 1, promising more aerial thrills.

Eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore takes a year off from surfing to refresh, with plans to return in 2025, inspiring a shift in the WSL lineup.

Eight-time World Champion Stephanie Gilmore takes a year off from surfing to refresh, with plans to return in 2025, inspiring a shift in the WSL lineup.

On January 12th, a group of VIP guests attended the Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Women with Horsepower event

On January 12th, a group of VIP guests attended the Star Gold Coast Magic Millions Women with Horsepower event

Elevate your business in a luxurious environment at Riva Offices, Gold Coast's premier co-working space. Join a thriving community of professionals and grow together.

Elevate your business in a luxurious environment at Riva Offices, Gold Coast’s premier co-working space. Join a thriving community of professionals and grow together.